Potato-harvester



Patented lan. 3, |899.

' J. P. BRENNAN.

PUTATO HARVESTER.

(Application led Jan. S, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.)

Patented lan. 3, |899. J. P. BRENNAN.

PDTATO HARVESTER.

(Application led Jan. 3, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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pieces.

PATENT JAMES P. BRENNAN, OF ELBA, vWISCONSIN.

Porno-HARVESTER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,885, dated January e, i 89e. Application filed January 3 1898. Serial N. 665,329. (No model.)

To tu whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. BRENNAN, of

vElba, in the county of Dodge and State of States issued to me on September 15,1896,

No. 567,846, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth and which comprehend certain parts and combination of parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section looking toward the forward end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the conveyer mechanism. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View of the grate and the plow at the forward end thereof, and Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 6 indicates the main portion of the frame, consisting, substantially, of two similar side These side pieces are provided with keepers or guides 7, through which pass the downwardly-extending portions of right-angular frames 8.

A shaft 9 is journaled in lthe side pieces constituting the main portion 6 of the frame toward and near the forward ends of said side pieces, and on this shaft are mounted the main drive-wheels 10 10. Also mounted on this shaft are sprocket-wheels 11 11.

Mounted in the rear ends of the horizontal members of the right-angular frames 8 is a rear shaft 12. On opposite ends of this shaft are carried sprocket-wheels 13 13, which are connected to the sprocket-wheels 11 by means of sprocket-chains 14. These sprocket-chains pass over tightening-pulleys 15, which are adjustable by means of upwardly-extending slotted arms 16, which are connected to the right-angular frames by means of adjustingscrews 17, passing through the slots and entering said frames. By loosening the screw the tightening-pulley may be adjusted so as forward ends of these beams are connected to the main frame in any suitable manner, preferably by means of the short beams 19 19. (Shown in Fig. 1.) To the rear ends of the longitudinal beams are connected the downwardly extending plow beams 2O 20, which carry at their lower ends the plow or shovel 21, advisably of the V-shaped form shown. To the rear end of the shovel or plow is secured a suitable grating, formed preferably from a number of longitudinal slats or rods 22. curvature toward the rear, and their rear eX- tremities are bent around into partly circular form, the extremities forming eyes23, which receive a transverse connecting-rod 24. To the extremities of this rod 24 are connected the rear ends of bars 25, which bars extend forwardly and are secured to the angular frames 8, respectively. The connection of the forward ends of the slats or rods 22 of the grating with the V-shaped plow is preferably made in the manner most clearly shown in Fig. 5. In this gure the plow proper is formed by an upper plate, beneath which the forward ends of the slats pass and fit in grooves therefor upon the underside of said plate. A retaining-plate 26 is fitted beneath the plow proper and is provided with registering grooves to receive the endsof the slats. This retaining-plate is held to the plow by means of bolts 27. By this provision a most simple, means for connecting the grate bars These rods have a gradual upward ICO- e Giftset row, at the same time deilecting or throwing the cut grass and weeds laterally, thereby leaving the plow perfectly clean.

It will be understood that the longitudinal beams 18 are pivoted at their forward ends to the short beams l), as indicated at 29, so as to permit the rear ends of said longitudinal beams to be drawn upwardly or lowered, as desired. Of course when said longitudinal beams are raised or lowered the deiiectingplates, the plow, and the grate are carried therewith, as also the angular frames 8,which move in the keepers or guides 7, and said angular frames carry therewith the rear shaft l2. It will be noticed that the upright or vertical arms of the angular frames are struck from the arc of a circle and are consequently permitted to move by the turning of the longitudinal beams on their pivots. To provide for this turning of the longitudinal beams and the movement therewith of the parts just referred to, I employ a rock-shaft 30. At one end of this rock-shaft is mounted a lever 3l, which lever extends down below said shaft for a desired distance. The opposite end of the rock-shaft has also extending downwardly therefrom an arm 32. ,The lever carries a spring-controlled dog 33, which as the lever is turned on its pivot is adapted to be brought into engagement with any of a series of recesses arranged in a segmental rack 34,where by the lever is held to adj usted position. This lever is' arranged so as to be conveniently operated by a person sitting on the seat 35. To the portion of the lever which extends below the rock-shaft and also to the depending arm 32 of said rock-shaft are connected the forward ends of cables or equivalents 36. These cables are extended rearwardly and pass over pulleys 37 and extend downwardly from said pulleys and connect at their extremities to the longitudinal beams 18. It will be obvious that by disengaging the dog from the segmental rack 34 the lever 3l is free to be swung on its pivot, so as to either raise or lower the longitudinal beams and the parts connected thereto, as hereinbefore described.

Extending downwardly from the side pieces 6, near the rear ends thereof, are curved brackets 38 38. To these brackets are connected straps 39, which at their lower ends are bifurcated to form bearings for the axes of small wheels 40 40, said wheels 40 serving as balance-wheels. Mounted medially on the rear shaft l2 are two plates 4l 41, preferably of annular form. Extending between these plates are the inner ends of radial arms 42. These arms are held between the plates by means of bolts 43. The arms, therefore, can be readily removed when damaged or otherwise injured. The outer ends of the arms are formed or provided with tines 44. The shaft 12 and the radial arms just referred 'to are so arranged with relation to the grate that said radiating arms will sweep the length or substantially the length of the grate, and the fingers of the tines will pass between the grate-bars, said arms and ngers being of such length as to permit the fingers to extend below the bars about one-half of an inch, as shown in Fig. l. This provides for keeping the grate-bars clean at all times and free from entangling matted grass, dac.

At the rear end of the machine is located certain mechanism which will now be described. The framework ofthis mechanism consists of two uprights or metallic straps 45. The lower end of each of these uprights is bent forwardly at an angle and is provided With a series of perforations 46. The rear ends of the side pieces of the main frame 6 are also provided each with a series of perforations 47. A pin 48 is adapted to be passed through any of the perforations 47 which may be brought into register with any of the perforations of the series 46, whereby the uprights are capable of being adj ustably connected to the main frame of the machine, so as to bring said uprights to any desired inclination. Brace-rods 49 connect the forwardly-bent ends of the uprights with the rearwardly-inclined upwardly-extending portions thereof, and brace-rods 50 extend from the upper ends of the uprights 45 forwardly to connect with upwardly-extending standards 5l. Extending forwardly from the uprights 45and longitudinally thereof are side boards 52. Between these side boards, at the rear edges thereof, is locateda grating 53, said grating consisting of a series of grate bars or rods suitably spaced apart. A conveyer is located just back of the uprights 45, said conveyer consisting of endless chains 54 54, passingaroundsuitablesprocket-wheels. These chains are connected by means of transverse slats 56, from which extend iingers 57, said fingers adapted to project through the spaces between the several slats of the grate 53. To the rear of the conveyer-belt is suitably secured a rear plate 58, which plate is formed or provided at its lower portion on the forward side thereof with an inverted-V-shaped guide 59.

Pivoted to the forwardly-exten ding portions of the uprights 45 and located between said uprights is a cup 60, which is just below the space between the side boards 52. .To the rear end of this cup is connected a cord or equivalent 61, which extends upwardly through a suitable guide 62. The cord is then extended forwardlyand is connected to a foot-operated lever 63, said lever being in convenient position for operation by the person seated on the machine.

On one end of the shaft or axis of the upper sprocket-wheel 55 of the conveyer is a pulley 64, said pulley provided peripherically with a series of connected recesses 65. Mounted on the shaft l2 is a similar pulley 66. These two pulleys are connected by a crossed chain 67. By this arrangement the rotation of the shaft l2 is imparted to the shaft or axis of the upper sprocket-wheel, the recesses in peripheries of the pulleys 64 and 66 serving IOO IIO

to provide openings for the reception of the links of the chain, and thereby acting in the nature of teeth. By this means rotation of the endless conveyer is secured.

In the operation of my invention the plow or shovel and the grate connected thereto, as Well as the other parts hereinbefore mentioned, are adjusted to the proper height by manipulating the lever 3l. The machine is placed astride of the row of potatoes to be unearthed, and as said machine advances the shovel or plow will penetrate the earth to a sufficient depth to unearth the potatoes, together with the adherent' earth. The potatoes and whatever earth may adhere theretol will be forced backward by the advancement of the machine and will pass from the shovel or plow onto the slats or'rods 22, forming the forward grate, where the loose dirt will be permitted to sift through and drop back to the surface of the ground. It will of course be understood that as the machine advances rotation is imparted to the rear shaft l2, as well as to the conveyer mechanism, by the described connections. This will cause a rotation of the radiating arms carrying the tines at their outer ends and cause said tines to pass .between the slats or rods 22. The tines, therefore, will engage the potatoes, together with any adhering earth, which will be raked or swept rearwardly with more or less rapidity and be discharged against the rear inclined grating 53. The potatoes will now fall into the cup G0, and by turning the foot-operated treadle or lever 63 the cup may be turned downwardly and emptied of its contents. Any grass or weeds which have been carried to the grating 53 will be caught in the fingers of the conveyer, and said grass and weeds will be carried'upwardly and then downwardly in the space just in front of the rear plate 5S. The fingers of the conveyer, therefore, are adapted to engage grass or weeds and carry the same upwardly and then downwardly into the space in advance of the rear plate 58. The dirt which is carried against the grating 53 passes through the bars thereof and against the rear inclined plate 58. This dirt, together with the grass and weeds which have been carried into this rear space by the conveyer-fingers, now falls onto the inverted-V-shaped defiector and is thrown sidewise into the furrows made by the plow, and thus said furrows are filled up and the surface of the ground left practically level and even after the plow has accomplished its function of unearthing the potatoes.

It will be noticed that the grating formed by the slats or rods 22 is so shaped that the rotating arms which carry the tines Will clear the upper ends of said slats or rods without contact therewith.

I prefer to form the tines or ngers separate from the radiating arms and connect said tines to the arms bya simple means,which will enable the tines to be radially detached when occasion should require-as, for instance,

when one of the fingers of a .tine becomes broken and it is desired to substitute a new tine therefor. With this end in view I provide for each radiating arm 42 a bracket 68, which is provided with a groove 69 for the reception of the upper end of the radiating arm, said radiating arm being held in the groove by means of a bolt 70. The upper end of the bracket is formed with a transverse member 7l, which is provided in one face with a series of half-round recesses. (Not shown.) The inner ends of the fingers 44C are fitted in these recesses, and a retaining-plate 72 is adj usted lengthwise of the member 7l and is likewise provided with half-round recesses. (Not shown.) The inner ends of the fingers therefor fit in these registering recesses. The plate 72 is held-to the transverse member 7l by means of bolts 73. It will be seen from this that a most simple means is provided for holding the fingers constituting the tines in place and for permitting said fingers to be removed when desired, as it is only necessary in order to accomplish this to remove the bolts 73.

I claiml. In a potato-harvester, the combination, of a main frame, a pivoted frame, angular frames secured to said pivoted frame, the upright arms of said angular frames passing through guides secured to the main frame, a

rotatable shaft journaled in the horizontal members of the angular frames, a series of arms radiating from the shaft and carrying tines at their outer ends, a'plow secured to the pivoted frame, and means forturning said pivoted frame on its pivots.

2. In a potato-harvester, the combination, of a main frame, a pivoted frame, angular frames secured to the pivoted frame, the upright arms of said angular frames passing through guides secured to the main frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in the horizontal members of the angular frames, a series of arms radiating from the shaft and carrying tines at their outer ends, a plow secured to the pivoted frame, a cable connected at one end to the pivoted frame, a lever to which the opposite end of the cable is connected, said lever carrying a spring-actuated dog, and a segmental rack, with which the springactuated dog is adapted to engage on the different adjustments of the lever.

3.- In a potato-harvester, the combination, of a main frame, a pivoted'frame, angular frames secured thereto, the upright arms of said angular frames passing through guides secured to the main frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in the horizontal members of the angular frames, a series of arms radiating from the shaft and provided at their outer ends with tines, a plow secured to the pivoted frame, deflecting-plates secured to the pivoted frame in advance of the plow, and means for turning said pivoted frame on its pivots.

4. In a potato-harvester, the combination, of a main frame, a pivoted frame, angular IOO IIO

frames secured thereto, the upright arms of said angular frames passing through guides secured to the main frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in the horizontal Amembers of the angular frames, a series of arms radiating from the shaft and provided at their outer ends with tines, a plow secured to the pivoted frame, a grating secured to the plow and extending rearwardly therefrom, and means for turning the pivoted frame on its pivots.

5. In a potato-harvester, the combination, of a rotatable shaft, plates mounted thereon, radiating arms having their inner ends passing between the plates, and the outer ends of the arms formed or provided with tines, and clamping-bolts passing through the plates and holding the inner ends of the arms therebetween.

G. The combination, of a frame, a rotatable shaft mounted therein, arms radiating therefrom, a bracket formed or provided at the outer end of each arm, said bracket formed with a transverse member having a series of recesses in one face thereof, a retaining-plate arranged lengthwise of the transverse member of the bracket, and provided with recesses registering with the recesses of said transverse member, tines fitting in the registering recesses, and a bolt or bolts connecting the plate to the transverse member.

7. The combination, of a rear grate, a plate back of the grate, and parallel or substantially parallel with the grate,said plate formed or provided with a deiiector disposed between said plate and the rear grate, and adapted for throwing the dirt passing through the grate to one side.

8. The combination, of a rear grate, a plate back of the grate, and parallel or substantially parallel with the grate,said plate formed or provided with an inverted-V-shaped deector, disposed between said plate and the rear grate.

9. The combination, of a rear grate, an endless conveyer, the projecting fingers thereof extending between the grate-bars, and a rear plate parallel or substantially parallel with and located back of the endless eonveyer, and formed or provided with a deiiector, said deiector disposed between the plate and the rear grate and adapted for throwing dirt and other foreign matter to one side.

10. The combination,of a rear grate,an endless conveyer, the projecting fingers thereof extending between the grate-bars, a pivoted cup, and a rear plate parallel or substantially parallel with and located back of the endless conveyer and formed or provided with a defiector, said defleetor being disposed between the plate and the rear grate and adapted to throw the dirt, and other foreign matter, to one side:

11. The combination, of a plow, a grate consisting of a series of bars extending rearwardly from the plow, the rear ends of said bars being curved rearwardly, a rotatable shaft, and a series of arms mounted on said shaft, the outer extremities of said arms being formed or provided with tines, which as the shaft is rotated are adapted to pass in the spaces between the bars, and to extend therethrough for a desired distance, the are of the circle described by the radiating arms being such as to cause the tines to clear the rear curved ends of the bars composing the grate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES l, BRENNAN.

Vitnesses:

XV. G. GOLES, ERNST von BnrnsEN. 

